Automatic firearm



No. s24,|45. Patented May 2, i899. F. K. vouue. AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1897.)

7 Sheena-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

Patented May 2, i899.

F. K. vouuq. AUTOMATIG nae/mm.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1897.)

-7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

I III.

N6. 624,145; Patented ma z, I899.

- r. YOUNG.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM; (Application fild Nov. 22, 1897.)

7 Shaets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

4 a 9 m 2 y a M d e t n e t a P nm N U 0 V. K F 5 M 4 2 6 m N AUTOMATICFIREARM.

A iiximion filed Nov. 22, 1897.)

7 Shams-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

No. 624,!45, Patented May 2, I899.

F. K. YbuNa.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1897.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Shet s.

I i Patentd May Z 899. No. e24,|4s. K You AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

(Application filed NW 22, 1897.) 7 (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sha e! 7.

UN TED STATES FRANKLIN K. YOUNG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATICFIREARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,145, dated May 2,189d. Application filed November 22, 1897. serial .No. 659,502. (Nomodela) T0 (LZZ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that 1, FRANKLIN K. YOUNG, of Boston, in the county ofSnifolk, and in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Firearms; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, ref.- erencebeing had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 shows a planview of a military rifle or shoulder-gun with my improved mechanismapplied thereto; Fig. 2, a view of the same in side elevation; Fig. 3, aview showing, in side elevation and on an enlarged scale, my breechmechanism with the stock or supporting-frame removed and a portion ofthe spring-containing tube or cylinder broken away, the parts of themechanism being shown in position as when the gun is ready to be firedby a pull on the trigger; Fig. 4, a view similar to that shown in Fig.3, but with the parts in position as when the breech mechanism is open;Fig. 5, a view of a vertical central longitudinal section of themechanism as shown in Fig. 3, the breech-bolt being shown in full linesin the position occupied by it when there is no cartridge in thecartridgechamber and in dotted lines in the position which it has whenabutting against the base of a cartridge in place in the chamber forfiring. Figs. 6, 7 8, and 9 are views of sections on lines 00 a3, 3 y,.2 2, and 0a m, respectively, of Fig. 5, Fig. 8 showing also across-section of the gun-stock; Fig. 10, a detail view show ing, on anenlarged scale, a section on line g/y of Fig. 1; Figs. 11 and 11, detailperspective views of the firing pin or plunger and a portion of thebreech-bolt, respectively; Fig. 12, a view showing, on an enlargedscale, vertical longitudinal section of my breech mechanism with thetrigger, the ejecting devices, the rear part of the piston of thesecondary bolt, and the devicesconnected with such piston removed; Fig.13, a view showing a longitudinal vertical section of the mechanism withthe parts in position as shown in Fig. 4; Fig. l i, a detail perspectiveview, on an enlarged scale, showing separated from each other thelocking-brace, the lockfor such brace, and the rocking and slidingbrace-actuating lever with its brace-lock-actuating slide; Fig. 15,asimilarview showing the ham mer, sear, hammer-spring, and the triggerwith its connected sear-actuating slide; Fig. lo, a detail perspectiveview showing, on an enlarged scale, the ejector and the rocking andsliding device for actuating the same; Fig. '17, a similar view showingthe breechbolt and the secondary bolt; Fig. 18, a detail perspectiveview showing, on an enlarged scale, the cartridge-carrier; Fig. 19, asimilar view showing the rocking cartridge-feeder; Fig. 20, a detailperspective view of my cartridge on an enlarged scale; Fig.2l, a viewshowing, partly in central longitudinal section and partly in elevation,one form of my cartridge; Fig. 22, a detail view, partly in section andpartly in side elevation, of 'a'form of bullet which can be used in mycartridge; Fig. 23, a detail view, partly in longitudinal section andpartly in elevation, of the forward portion of another form of mycartridge; Fig. 24:, a view showing, partlyin longitudinal section andpartly in elevation, another form of my cartridge; and Fig. 25,.a viewin elevation of another form of bullet for my cartridge.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The object of my invention has been to provide an improved gun capableof use at will either as an automatically loading and firing repeatinggun of great rapidity of fire or as one to deliversingle shots, at thedesire of the user, the time of firing being then dependent upon a pullon the trigger, as in single-shot or ordinarymagazine guns; and to thisend my invention consists in the mechanism and the construction,arrangement, and combi-' nation of the parts thereof, as hereinafterspecified.

While I have shown my invention in the drawings and will describe ithereinafter as applied to a military rifle or shoulder-gun, I desire itto be understood that I do not limit myself to its application to such aform of gun, but contemplate applying it to other forms of gun, as tofield artillery and rapidfiring guns for use on land or shipboard.

I also desire it to be understood that while I have shown and willdescribe hereinafter my invention as applied to a gun in which thebreech-closing bolt has a simple rectilinear movement I do not intend tolimit myself in the application of my invention to such form ofbreech-closing device, but contemplate also using my mechanism foropening, closing, and locking the breech-closing device and for closingand firing the piece in connection with any desired form of movablebreech-closer, whether the same is a bolt or block and whateverthe'direction of its movements to carry it into and from itsbreechclosing position may be.

Where a block or bolt having its movements to open and close thebreech-block in a direction other than one in or substantially in linewith the bore is employed, it should, as is usual in such blocks orbolts heretofore known and used in firearms, have a firing-pin ormovable tiring device carried in or on it. Such firing pinor devicewould be adapted to engage the igniting-plunger in my cartridge, to bedescribed hereinafter, and to be engaged by the end of thefiring-plunger, which in my mechanism shown and described hereinafter isarranged to be struck by the hammer and to be driven rearward by theplunger in the cartridge when the latter is fired. In such case theforce with which the igniting-plunger in the cartridge is drivenrearward by the pressure of the gases of explosion would be transmittedto the firingplunger, which in my mechanism shown in the drawings and tobe described hereinafter serves, when driven rearward, to causeunlocking and. retraction of the breech-bolt, cocking of the hammer,extraction and ejection of the tired cartridge-shell, and the feeding ofa new cartridge up into position to be forced into the cartridge-chamberby the sub-' sequent forward travel of the bolt.

In the drawings, A designates the forward portion of the frame forsupporting the parts of my mechanism. Such portion has the barrel Bscrewed into its forward end (see Fig. 5) and contains thecartridge-chamber a and to the rear of such chamber a short cylindricalpassage a to receive the head 0 of the breech-bolt, to be describedhereinafter. The 'rear end of the frame A has the cylindrical portion A,with an internally-threaded opening in line with the passage oi, intowhich is screwed the tubular part a of the rear part A of mymechanism-s11pporting frame.

Upon the rear end of the frame part A is an upright arm a which also hasan internally-screw-threaded opening a in line with the threaded openingin the cylindrical portion A of the frame above, into which is screwedthe forward end of a tube or cylinder G for a purpose to be explainedhereinafter.

The part A of the frame has to the rear of the passage a arectangular-shaped opening D extending up through it, the side walls ofsuch opening being in the form of upright plates adapted to accommodatebetween them the locking-brace and other parts to be describedhereinafter. At the forward end of opening D the frame A has adownwardlyextending plate-like portion A Guided and sliding in the boreof the tubular portion (0 of the part A of the frame is the hollowsecondary bolt E, which carries secured to its forward end the head E,provided with a central opening 6, non-cylindrical and preferably, butnot necessarily, rectangular in cross-section, through which slides theshank O of the breech-bolt O, the portion of such shank which passes andslides through the opening 6 being made to correspond in shape with thelatter, so that the shank, and consequently the breech-bolt C, whilebeing free to reciprocate cannot rotate with reference to secondary boltE. The head E is preferably, though not necessarily, made with athreaded part 6', screwed into the end of the secondary bolt and furthersecured by a screw 6 passing through the walls of the tubular end of thesecondarybolt and tapped into the threaded part of the head. (See Figs.5, l2, and 17.) v

Vithin the bore of the tubular part of the secondary bolt E the shank ofthe breech-bolt C is provided with a hollow head 0 screwed to the rearend of the shank and extending forward around the latter, its interiorchamber being of larger diameter than the shank, so as to leave room fora spiral spring 0 surrounding said shank. At a short distance forward ofthe front end of this hollow head C the breech-bolt shank O is providedwith a shoulder 0, (see Figs. 8 and 11%) against which normally rests aloose annular collar or washer c on the cylindrical portion 0 of theshank. The forward end of spring C abuts against this collar or washeran d presses it toward the shoulder 0. With this construction if thebreech-bolt C be held stationary and the secondary bolt E be drawnrearward the head E when it comes in contact with the washer 0 willforce it back, so as to compress the spring C the stress of which willthen tend to return the breech-bolt and secondary bolts toward theirformer relative positions either by forcing the secondary bolt forwardon the shank of the breech-bolt or, if the latter be released and leftfree to move, by forcing it rearward with reference to the secondarybolt.

A central passage 0 extending through the head and shank of thebreech-bolt, receives the reciprocating firing pin or plunger F, theforward end of which is adaptedto be projected beyond the front en d ofthe breechbolt, as hereinafter described, so as to engage and operatethe firing device of a cartridge seated in the cartridge-chamber a. Thisfiring pin or plunger extending rearward beyond the end of thebreech-bolt shank and through the main bore of the secondary bolt hasits rear end passing through a reduced passage in the latter bolt to therear of the said main bore.

rear of such main bore the secondary bolt is At a short distance to theslotted vertically at E (see Figs. 5, 12, and 17,) the slot thus madeaffording an opening through which the firing-hammer, to be describedmore fully hereinafter, can reach the rear end of the firing-plunger,which when the plunger is in its normal rearward position projects intothe slot E as shown in the drawings. (See Figs.'5 and 12.)

Fitting within the main bore of the tubular part of the secondary boltis a sliding collar F, loosely surrounding the firing-plunger andprovided on its rear side with the recess f. To the rear of such collarF the firingplunger carries, fixed upon or made in one piece with it,the collar or enlargement F adapted to abut against the rear end of themain bore of the secondary bolt E when the firing-plunger is in itsnormal rearward position with its end projecting back into the slot E ashereinbefore described. A spiral spring F, with its forward end seatedwithin the recess f, surrounds the plunger between the collar orenlargement F and the sliding loose collar F, and by its pressure onthecollar or enlargement F tends to hold the latter rearward seatedagainst the bottom or end of the main bore of the secondary bolt. henthe breech-bolt is not engaging and being held rearward by a cartridgein the chamber a, the pressure of the spring F upon the loose slidingcollar F forces it, and con-- sequently the breech-bolt 0, forward withreference to the secondary bolt until the loose collar 0 on the shank ofthe breech-bolt comes in contact with the inner or rear end of the headE on the secondary bolt, as shown in Figs. 5 and 13. The spring C beingstronger than the spring F prevents further forward throw of thebreech-bolt with reference to the secondary bolt by the spring F Thefixed collar or enlargement F on the firing-plunger fits and slideswithin the tubular bushing or bearing-piece E fixed within the secondarybolt by a screw 6 or otherwise, if desired, and is provided with a smallopening f, extending through it, to admit the passage of air by it as itreciprocates within the bushing, and so prevent the format-ion of anyair-cushion or vacuum to re tard the movements of the firing-plunger.

To the rear of the slot F. the secondary bolt has secured to it theextension E forming a piston, which at its rear end extends into and isguided in the forward end of the tube or cylinder G, screwed into thethreaded opening a of the upright arm a of the frame part A hereinbeforedescribed. Preferably, but not necessarily, the extension orpiston E ismade hollow, as shown, and with solid pieces g and g secured in itsopposite ends by means of pins 9 51 or otherwise, as desired. Both ofsuch pieces have their parts which project beyond the ends of the bodyof the piston E" reduced in size, the oneg having its projecting partthreaded and screwed into the rear end of the body of the secondarybolt, as shown in Figs. 5 and 12.

Upon the projecting portion of the rear piece g within the cylinder G isthe tubular follower or piston-head G, fitting the cylinder-bore andhaving on its rear side a projection 9 to act as a guide and steadierfor the forward end of the spiral spring G which, extending rearwardwithin the cylinder, has its rear end abutting against a bearing g onthe piece 9 fixed Within the cylinder near the rear end thereof. Justforward of the bearing g and piece g which serve to close the cylinder,I make one or more air-ports g 9 through the cylinder-walls to allow airto escape from and flow into the cylinder as the piston or extension E,with its follower or head G, moves rearward and forward within thecylinder. The port or ports used are of such size that as the pistonEt'travels rearward the air can escape from the cylinder with such speedthat the movement of the piston will be slowed down, but not checked, bythe air-pressure,'as it would be by the aircushion which would be formedwere the cylinder without any air port or ports 9 The rate at which thepiston, and consequently the secondary bolt and breech-bolt,wi1l travelrearward under the influence of pressure or of their momentum will beregulated by the area of the port or ports used, being propor tionate tothe possible rate of How of air through the latter. As the boltextension or piston E, with the follower or head G, moves rearward inthe cylinder G the spring G is compressed so that it will by its stressact subsequently to return the piston and head, and consequently thesecondary bolt, to their normal forward positions after the rearwardmomentum of such parts has been overcome.

The cylinder G is to be held against rearward movement by beingsupported on or against any suitable abutment, the arrangement andconstruction of which can be varied as desired, according to the kind orconstruction of the gun to which my invention is to be applied. Asshownin the drawings, its rear end is engaged by the piece H on theupper side of the gun-stock H, such piece being pivoted to an arm of thebutt-plate H by a pin 72. This pivoting of the piece H is only forconvenience in putting in place or detaching my mechanism from thegun-stock. With the part so pivoted it can be swung upward, so that itsreduced portion h can be readily inserted in the rear end of thecylinder G, and then the piece, with the cylinder and all the parts ofmy mechanism, with the frame A, A, and A can be swung down into place inthe grooves and cavities providedin the stock for their reception. Forsecuring the frame in place in the stock when so swung down I providesuch frame with the transverse keyways 7L2 7L2, adapted to be engaged bysliding keys 7L3 lbs of the usual well-known form employed for securingthe frames and parts of gun mechanisms to gun-stocks.

The breech-bolt O is at its forward end provided with acartridge-extracting hook c which, as shown, is fastened to thebolt-head by screws 0 c and projects forward and downward over the frontface of the bolt, so as to be adapted to engage with its hooked end theannular groove in the head of what is known as'a flangeless cartridge.This cartridge 1, which I have shown in the drawings, has the usualgroove t' for engagement by the extractonhook, but in other respects anddetails, to be explained hereinafter, differs from the cartridgesheretofore used.

The secondary bolt E is at a point to the rear of the tubular part ofthe portion A of the frame through which it passes provided with aprojecting handle or arm K, by which it can be moved back and forward,as desired, to open and close the breech mechanism. It has also fixed onits upper side, to the rear of the frame part A an arm K, which projectsupward and forward from the rear end of the slot This arm has on itsrear side the short upright or abrupt shoulder 7t and the upwardly andforwardly inclined surface 7t above such shoulder, while on its frontside it has the upright face k on its upper end,

and just below such face a shoulder 7f, substantially in a planeparallel with the line of movement of the secondary bolt. From the rearend of this shoulder the arm has an inclined face k extending rearwardlyan d downwardly and being preferably rounded or convexed, as shown. Thisincline is continued down into the slot E (See Figs. 5 and 12.)

For locking and holding the breech-bolt G in closed position with itsforward end resting against the base of a cartridge in the chamber ct Iprovide the swinging lockingbrace L, (see Figs. 5, 12, 13, and 14,)pivoted to the sides of the frame A by the pivot screwpins Z Z, tappedthrough the frame sides and having cylindrical portions engaging holes ZZ in opposite sides of the rear portion of the brace. Thislocking-brace, being cut away underneath to accommodate the forwardportion of the secondary bolt E when the brace is .down in position tolock the breech-block, as indicated in Figs. 5, 8, 12, and 14, has itsforward portion L adapted to pass well down behind the rear face of thebreech-bolt head 0, said portion L being. cut away centrally at Z tostride the shank O of the breech-bolt just to the rear of the head 0.

To enable the locking-brace to best resist wear, I prefer to have thepart of it which engages the breech-bolt formed of a block L of hardenedmetal, secured in any desired Way in a suitable recess in the brace. Asshown in the drawings, the wearing-block is inserted in a dovetailedgroove 1 in the brace and secured by one or more screws 1 Thisconstruction, though not necessary, is desirable as allowing the blockto be readily removed and replaced by a new one.

On top of the locking-brace is aprojection L having in it a longitudinalpassage for the bolt L of the lock for the locking-brace, such boltbeing adapted when the locking-brace is down in its bre'ech-bolt-holdingposition to enter an opening Z provided for it in the pro jection a onthe frame A. This bolt L has on its rear end beyond the projection L thetwo ears Z Z, provided with a pin Z which passes through them andthrough the slot 171. in the forward end of the locking-bolt-actuatingrod M, which projects in between such cars. This rod M is carried by andreciprocates in a swinging and sliding lever M, which at its forward endis pivotally connected with the locking-brace by pivot-pins m m, screwedinto cars Z Z on the lockingbrace L and having cylindrical portionsengaging the holes Z Z in the sides of the end of the lever M.

The slot in in the forward end of therod M is intended and adapted toallow for the relative swing of the locking-brace and the lever M asthey are both swung up or down to throw the brace in to and out ofbreech-boltlocking position in the manner to be de= scribed.

The lever M has a sliding fulcrum formed of the two pivotal studs orbosses m m on opposite sides of the lever engaging the upward] y andrearwardly inclined slots m m in the uprights A A on the part A of themechanism supporting frame. These uprights can be both formed in onepiece with the frame part A but I prefer for convenience in assemblingthe parts to make at least one ofthem separate from the frame and attachit to the latter by one or more screws M, as indicated in Figs. 3, t,and 7. The forward sides of the two uprights are inclined rearward andupward, and the lever M has on opposite sides upwardly and rearwardlyextending inclined faces m m to ride up over the inclines on theuprights A A as the lever is drawn rearward. These inclined faces an mare not quite straight, but arerounded or convexed, so that they canboth slide over and rock on the inclines on the uprights as the lever Mboth moves rearward and swings to let its forward end move backward anddownward with the cars l l as the locking-brace L swings to lift itsbreech-boltengaging forward portion up away from the breech-bolt.

The rear end of the rod M, extending through a guiding-passage in thebrace-actuating lever M, is attached to a block M reciprocating in arecess M in the rear portion of the lever. This block, having its frontend fitting and guided in a correspondinglyshaped part of the recess Mhas its rear end supported upon a pin 071 fixed in the lever M andengaging a guide-opening m in the block. In the under side of this blockis a recess m which when the lever M is down in position, as when thebreech mechanism is closed, (see Figs. 3, 5, and 12,) receives the arm Kon the secondary bolt,.the space within such recess being of greaterlength from front to rear than the part of arm K which projects into it,so that such arm can have some top ofthe block.

movement with the secondary bolt in dependent of the block M The forwardend of the arm K when moved to force the block M forward projects so asto bring its shoulder over the shoulder m on the lever in position tolock the lever securely from any upward movement. To the rear of theshoulder is on the arm K the block M has a shoulder m adapted to bestruck by the arm-shoulder as the secondary bolt is moved rearward totake the arm-shoulder k off of the lever-shoulder m block-shoulderm thenforces the block M back to actuate the rod M to withdraw thelocking-brace fasteningbolt L so as to leave the brace free to be swungup by the subsequent movement of the lever M.

Below the recess M the lever M has a downwardly and rearwardly extendingarm m which when the lever is down in the position shown in Figs. 3, 5,and 12 projects into the slot E in the secondary bolt E. Such arm has onits rear side the downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam-face m, to beengaged by the arin K on the secondary bolt, and on its front side therounded cam-face m, to be engaged by the forward end of the slot E whenthe lever M is down in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 12 and thesecondary bolt E is drawn or forced rearward far enough to carry theshoulder 7.; on the arm K to the rear of the shoulder m on the lever M.The block 1 2 can, if desired, be further guided'in its reciprocationswithin the recess M on the lever M by means of a pin m ,passing througha suitable opening and groove in the rear part of the lever and engaginga groove m in the (See Figs. 5 and 12.)

The lower and forward side of the arm m is slotted at m to allow thepassage of the striking end of the hammer N to reach and strike the rearend of the firing-plunger F.

be engaged by the nose of the sear N piv-' oted to the frame by pins 02n on the latter engaging pivotholes n n in the sear sides. As shown,(see Figs. 5 and 15,) such sear is slotted or cut away to admit thepassage of the mainspring N forward to the hammer and has on its rearend'two slotted ears n or, provided with the inclined slots W91 engagedby the inner ends of pins n 01 screwed or, if desired, otherwisefastened to the arms n n of a fork formed on the forward end of thesliding sear-tripping device N which has its shank guided and sliding ina passage a in the block N", secured to the frame part A by ascrew-shankn tapped into thelatter. This screw-shank also passes through the mainspring N, so that it and the block N serve to securely fasten the rearend of the mainspring in place.

The engagement of the arm with the A spiral spring at surrounding theseartripper shank and at opposite ends engaging, respectively, the blockN and a shoulder at on such shank, serves to force and normally hold thesear-tripper'rearward to keep the hammer-engaging nose of the searpressed upward against the hammer-cam by the stress of the spring 91 Thesear will be thus held pressed against the hammer-cam with ayieldingpressure, so that its nose will fly up behind the shoulder 17. when thehammer is cooked and will remain in engagement with such shoulder untilthe sear is rocked by the engagement of the pins a n with the inclinedslots 71 n as the sear tripping device N is forced forward by a swing ofthe trigger N which is pivoted to the frame part A by the pin 11 and hasits upper end pivotally connected with the arms 97. n of a fork on therear end of the tripper-shank by a pin passing through such arms and anopening in the trigger.

To raise a cartridge up into the space D, within the part A of theframe, into position to be forced by the breech-bolt G into thecartridge-chamber a, I provide a rising-andfalling cartridge-carrier,having the cartridge receiving and supporting table 0, having its rearend pivotally supported on the end of the lever O by a pin 0 passingthrough ears 0 0 on the table and a perforated end of the lever betweensuch ears and its forward end pivotally connected with a second lever Oby a pin 0 passing through a lug 0 on the sage of the hammer N, has itsrear end provided with a socket, in which is fastened the reduced shank0' of the bar 0 which is supported at its rear end by a head 0 slidingupon a portion of the frame A and having a lug O projecting down througha slot 0 in such frame. The head 0 is kept down in place upon itssupporting-surface, while left free to reciprocate thereon, by aguide-pin 0 on the head engaging a guide-opening 0 in the upright part aof the frame. Thelever O has in its forward and lower end a curved slot0 engaged by a pin 0, supported by lugs 0 O on a piece 0 secured to theinner face of the part A of the frame at the forward end of the space oropening D in the frame.

Upon the forward end of the cartridge-carrier table 0 is a stud or pin 0engaging a slot 13 in the arm P, attached to or formed on the rock-shaftP, having on its opposite ends pintles p p, journaled, respectively, ina bearing in the frame part A and in a bracket 19 secured to the framepart A This shaft carries the two curved cartridge-feeding arms P P,adapted, when rocked back away from the table 0, to receive a cartridgewithin their concave sides and then to deliver such cartridge over ontothe table when the shaft P is rocked to carry said arms inward. Therock-shaft is situated so as to be close beside the table when thelatter is down, and the slot 1) in the arm P is so arranged that theengagement of the pin or stud 0 therewith will cause the shaft to berocked to carry the arms P I? outward and inward as the table rises andfalls. The slot 1) is so formed that as the table descends the pin orstud 0", passing down in the slot, will not causethe arm P, andconsequently the rock-shaft P, to be turned to carry the arms P P inwarduntil just before the table comes to rest, and then the shaft will berocked quickly to cause the arms to throw over upon the table 0 anycartridge which they may be engaging with their concave sides. Thecurvature of the slot 0 in the lever O, engaged by the stationary pin 0is such that as the lever O is rocked to raise its forward end, andconsequently that portion of the .table O connected with the latterlever, the lever 0 will also be rocked to raise its rear end to elevatethe rear end of the table, the relative movements of the two levers Oand O beingsnch that the table is, without being tilted, raised to carrythe cartridge on it up into the desired position in front of thebreech-bolt and with its bullet end in position to enter thecartridge-chamber a. (See Figs. 4c and 13.)

The bar 0 is reciprocated to cause the car tridge-carrier table 0 to beraised and lowered at the proper times with reference to the movementsof the breech-bolt C and secondary bolt E by an arm E carried by thesecondary bolt and forked to embrace the bar 0 Vith thecartridgc-carrier table down and the bar 0 forward in its normalposition, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, as the secondary bolt E is drawn orforced rearward the arm E just before the bolt reaches the limit of itsrearward movement to retract the breech-bolt O strikes a shoulder 0 onthe head 0 and forces the latter rearward into the position shown inFigs. 4 and 13, so as to suddenly retract the bar 0 and quickly rock thelever O to lift the carrier-table O. The head 0 and bar 0 are held asthus retracted by the nose of the spring-pawl R engaging the notch 0 inthe lug O of the head 0 To move the bar 0 forward again to cause thecarrier-table to be dropped as the secondary bolt approaches the limitof its forward movement, I provide a collar 0, which is adapted to beengaged at the proper time by the forward side of the arm on thesecondary bolt, as shown in Figs. '3, 5, and 12. This collar is ascrewthreaded one screwed upon the rear portion of the piece 0 which isconnected and moves with the bar 0 as hereinbefore described.

D in the stock II.

This construction and arrangement of the abutment to be engaged by arm Eis not necessary, though I prefer it as being one allowing of adjustmentof surface to be engaged by said arm E to take up any wear. The collar 0can be screwed forward and back upon the piece 0 and can be securelyfastened at any adjustment by the set-nut 0 being screwed up against it.

When moved in themanner just above described to cause thecartridge-carrier to be dropped to its normal depressed position, thebar 0 is retained in its forward position not only by the weight of thecarrier, but also by the nose of the spring-pawl R engaging the rearwardnotch 0 in the under side of the lug O on the bar-head 0 An uprighttransverse plate A, secured to the frame part A serves as an abutmentand guide for the base or rear end of a cartridge resting on thecarrier-table 0.

To eject a cartridge-shell withdrawn from the chamber a by theextractor-hook a when the breech-bolt O is retracted, I provide arocking ejector having the shell engaging plate S, carried by arock-shaft S, journaled at its forward end in a bearing in the frame andhaving its rear end supported in and extending through a bearing-pieces, secured to the frame part A (See Figs. 3, 4, and S.) The plate S isadapted when swung upward to stand to one side of the path of thebreech-bolt O and secondary bolt E, as indicated in full lines in Fig.8. From this position it can be swung by the rocking of the shaft. Sdown to that indicated by dotted lines in said figure, so that in itsswing it will force the cartridgeshell away from the extractor-hook cand throw it downward and outward from the space D and out through anejector-opening (Indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.) The shaft S bearsupon its rear end, beyond the piece 3, a crank-arm S carrying a pin 3.It also has a hook-shaped arm 8 engaged by a spring S, which has one ofits ends secured in the bearing-piece s and its other free end seated inthe hook of the arm 5 so that its stress will tend to swing the latterarm inward in a direction to rock the shaft S to carry the plate S upinto its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 8. To the rear end of thecrank-arm S is another crank-arm S carrying an elongated lug s to engagethe pin 8'. This arm S is fixed 011 a sliding and rocking shaft Sjournaled and sliding at its forward and rear ends, respectively, inbearing-pieces s 5 secured to the frame part A .To limit thesliding orlongitudinal movement of the shaft in these bearing-pieces, the portionsof the shaft engaged by the latter are preferably made smaller than themain part of the shaft, so as to leave the shoulders .9

As shown in Figs. 8 and 4, the shaft S is out of line with theejector-shaft S, so that the paths of the lug s and pin 5' are eccentricto each other as the two shafts are rocked on their bearings, and thelugs is so arranged on the crank-arm S thatwheu the shaft S is movedforward in its bearings and is rocked to carry the lug s outward anddownward such lug will first engage the pin 8' on the crank-arm S andforce it outward to cause the shaft S to be rocked to carry theejector-plate downward from its normal retracted position, andv thenwill pass off of such pin to allow the shaft S tobe rocked back again bythe stress of the spring S The rearward movement of the shaft S in itsbearings, allowed for in the manner hereinbefore described, is adaptedto take the lug s to the rear of the pin 5, so that the shaft S can berocked back to its first position without engagement.- of the lug andpin. (See Fig. 4.)

To hold the shaft S in its rearward and forward positions, respectively,until it is moved longitudinally by some power applied to it, I provideit with the two annular grooves s s to be engaged by the pin 3 on thespring pawl 5 secured to the rear bearing-piece The pin .5 snaps intothe rear or forward one of these notches when the shaft 8 has been movedforward or rearward and holds the shaftfrom longitudinal movement,whi1eleav- I ing it free to rotate.

In order that the shaft S may be moved forward and rearwardlongitudinally as the secondary bolt E approaches, respectively, theforward and rearward limits of its reciprocation, I provide theshaftwith the two pins 5 8 adapted to be engaged by the arm S secured to thesecondary bolt.

In order to secure the proper rotary movement of the shaft S a portionof the latter is flattened or made non-cylindrical in crossse ction andthe arm S is forked to embrace the shaft, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6.The rear part of this flattened or non-cylindrical part of the shaft istwisted, as shown at so that the forked arm S engaging it will cause theshaft to be rocked to carry its arm 8* outward and inward, as thesecondary bolt approaches and moves away from the limit of its rearward.movement. The engagement of the pawl-pin s with forward or rearwardgroove 5 serves to hold the shaft S in its rearward or forward positionsuntil the arm S engages the forward or rearward one of pins 5 Thecartridges which are to be fed to the cartridge-lifting carrier-table Oare to be guided from any suitable magazine or source of supply down thecartridge-passage T, so that the lowest or first of them will restagainst the outer curved convex sides of the arms P in position to fallupon the inner concave sides of the latter when the arms are rockedbackward by the rocking of the shaft P, caused by the retraction ofthesecondary bolt E, by the means and in the manner hereinbefore described.The curvature of the outer sides of the arms allows them to be rockedback easily past the lowest or first of the cartridges which, when thearms are swung rearward, rests against them. The arms are of such lengthand form as to take only this one cartridge from the supply and carry itinward upon the table 0 as the arms swing inward again after such tablehas dropped to its normal depressed position again.

The cartridge I, which I use with my gun mechanism and which, asindicated hereinbefore, is preferably, though not necessarily, of theso-called flangeless kind, with a groove 2' to be engaged by theextractor-hook 0 has within it aplunger 1, adapted to reciprocate in andproject through a central opening in the cartridge-head and carrying anenlargement in the form of a piston 1 fitting and movable in the passage1 within the cartridge-shell. To the front of this piston the plungerhas a shank I, which, extending forward within the shell, is adapted atits forward end to act as an eXploder to fire the cartridge-ignitingprimer. As shown in Fig. 21, such a primer, represented at i, is placedover the end of the plunger-shank and is adapted to be exploded by beingdriven against the base of the projectile 1 held in the front end of thecartridge-case With this arrangement the cartridge charge of explosive Iwill be ignited at its forward end, so that the best efi'ect inpropulsion of the projectile will be secured when the cartridge isfired.

The rear end of the plunger 1 is adapted to be engaged and drivenforward by the hereinbefore described firing-plunger F of my mechanism,as such latter plunger is driven forward by the blow of the hammer Nafter the closing and locking of the breech-closing devices, and todrive the firing-plunger rearward as the pressure of the gases ofexplosion within the cartridge forces the piston I rearward in thepassage 1 The pressure of the gases thus transmit-ted to thefiringplunger F drives the latter rearward with such force and momentumthat it acts through the secondary bolt to unlock and open the breechmechanism and actuate the other parts in the manner to be describedhereinafter.

The primer 2" to be exploded by the ignitingplunger 1' can, as indicatedin Fig. 22, be placed upon a suitable anvil 2' in the rear end of theprojectile or can be in the form of a percussion-disk resting againstthe projectilebase, as indicated in Fig. 23. It can also, if desired, bein the form of a pellet attached to the forward end of the shank ofplunger I, as shown in Fig. 24:, or to the base of the projectile, asindicated in Fig. 25.

\Vhile the cartridge-shell can be made in one piece in the ordinary way,if desired, I prefer to make it as shown in the drawings that is, withan outer and inner shell, the inner one of which carries the cartridgebase or head and is screwed into the outer part, the rear end of thelatter being for that purpose threaded interiorly to be screwed upon thethreaded rear portion of the inner shell. The inner shell extends wellforward within the IIO outer one, as shown. This construction I havefound to be advantageous not only as enabling me to best and most easilymake my cartridge with its passage 1 for the piston 1 but to mostconveniently prime and load the cartridge. It has been found also tomake a good strong durable cartridge-shell capable of being reloaded andused repeatedly without injury. within the cartridge-chamber of a gun,the pressure of the gases of explosion expands the inner shell againstthe walls of theouter shell, so that there can be no leakage of gasrearward an d outward between the two shells,even where the threading ofthe screw-threaded rear parts of the shells is but small in depth andextent.

Vhile I have shown and described my cartridge as arranged to be firedbya primerignited by the forward end of the shank of the plunger withinthe cartridge, I do not intend to limit myself to the use of such acartridge; but contemplate, where desired, employing other means forigniting the explosive charge.

A cartridge having a movable part to be driven rearward by the pressureof the gases of explosion and to engage and actuate the plunger F of mymechanism, and means whereby its charge can be ignited otherwise than inthe manner described hereinbcfore and indicated in the drawings, can beused without involving departure from my invention so long as there isinor on the cartridge a movable part adapted to be moved by pres sure ofthe gases of explosion, and to engage and actuate directly or indirectlya part made movable with reference to the breech-closing head or boltand adapted through suitable connections to actuate movable parts of thegun mechanism.

The operation of my mechanism as hereinbefore described, and shown inthe drawings, is as follows: lVith the parts in the positions indicatedin Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5,with the tube or cylinder G supported againstrearward m ovement in the manner shown in Figs. 1,3, and 10 or in otherdesired way, and with cartridges supplied to passage T either by beingdropped into such passage by hand or from a magazine orothersuitablesource of su pply, so that there will be a cartridge in said passageresting against the armsp p of the cartridge-feeder, if there is no livecartridge in the chamber a or on the carrier-table O, the secondary boltE is drawn back by the handle K until the arm E strikes the shoulder 0on the head 0 on the bar 0 and carries such head and bar rearward. Thismovement of the bar 0 through the connection of the bar with the upright arm of lever 0 causes such lever to be raised, so that the table 0is elevated in the manner hereinbefore indicated and to be describedhereinafter. The lifting of the table 0 causes, through the engagementof its pin or stud 0 with the slot 29 in arm P, the shaft P to be rockedto carry the arms P P outward under and past the cartridge resting lVhensuch a cartridge is fired against them in the ca rtridge-feedin gpassage. That cartridge then falls in front of the concave inner sidesof the arms P P, ready to be carried over inward by the latter when theshaft P is rocked inward again. The secondary bolt E is then movedforward, so that its arm E strikes the abutment or collar 0 and causesit and the bar 0 to move forward so as to cause the lever O and table 0to be depressed again. The fall of this table because of the describedconnections between it and the arm P on the shaft P causes the latter tobe rocked inward to make the arms P P throw the cartridge engaged bythem over upon the table 0 in the position shown in Fig. 5. \Vith thepassage T kept supplied with cartridges this feeding of a cartridge uponthe table 0 will be repeated each time that the latter is returned toits normal depressed position after being raised to supply a cartridgeto the place where the breech-bolt O can engage it and push it into thechamher a. \Vith the parts in position as indicated in Fig. 5, therebeing no cartridge in the chamber a, if it be desired to load the gunfor firing the secondary boltE is drawn rearward by its handle K. Itsfirst movement then causes the shoulder 7; on its arm K to engage theshoulder m at the rear end of the recess m in the sliding block mattached to the rod M, and move such block and rod rearward to retractthe locking-bolt L from its recess Z, all as indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 12. The retraction of this locking-bolt L leaves thelocking-brace L free to be swung up on its pivots to disengage it fromthe rear side of the head of the breech-bolt O, and so leave the latterfree to be subsequently retracted. Continued rearward movement of thesecondary bolt E then causes the abutment at the forward end of the slotE to engage the face m on the forward side of the arm m on the lever Mand so force such lever rearward. As the lever is thus moved it iscausedto swing upward by the camming action of its inclined cam-surfacesm m engaging the inclines on the uprights A A on the frame until the armm has been raised out of the slot E in the secondary bolt. The rearwardmovement and swing of the lever thus caused compel the locking-brace,which is pivotally connected with the forward end of the lever, to swingupward upon its pivotal supports on the frame A, so as to entirelydisengage it from the breech-bolt O, as shown in Figs. 4c and 13. Theslot on in the forward end of the rod M allows for the necessaryrelative movements of the rod end and the pin Z carried by thelocking-bolt lb, as the lever M and locking-brace swing upon theirdifferent fulcra, the slot being curved, as shown, so that the pin Zrides in it without causing any longitudinal movement of thelocking-bolt as the brace swings up or down. The above-describedmovement of the secondary bolt to cause the locking-brace to be unlockedand swung up to release the breech-bolt before the latter is startedrearward out of the passage ct, in which it rests when in its normalbreech-closing position, is allowed for by the spring connectionsbetween the breech-bolt and secondary bolt hereinbefore described. Asthe secondary bolt first moves rearward the inner end of its head Estrikes the sliding collar on the shank C of the breech-bolt and forcessuch collar back against the stress of the spring C so that the latterwill be compressed and will when the breech-bolt has been released andis free to move rearward force the same back quickly to return it to itsnormal position with relation to the secondary bolt. Should thebreechbolt tend to stick in the breech, the head E on the secondary boltwill force the collar or washer 0 against the end of the hollow head 0secured to the shank of the breeclrbolt,

and will positively force said shank, and consequently the breech-bolt,rearward to withdraw the latter from the breech. The driving of thewasher against the head 0 by the head E will cause such a quick blowupon head C as will insure the starting of the breech-bolt rearward inspite of any tendency of the bolt or a cartridge-shell engaged by theextractor-hook c to stick in the breech. If the hammer N was not cockedbefore the beginning of the described retraction of the secondary bolt,it will be cocked or swung back to carry its shoulder a in position tobe engaged by the sear N by the engagement of the forward end of slot Ewith it as the said bolt moves rearward. The continued movement of thesecondary bolt retracts it and the breech-bolt-, so that the latterfinally stands to the rear of the upward path to be taken by the base ofa cartridge resting upon and raised by the table 0. In the meantime thespring G in the tube or cylinder G has been compressed by the movementof the extension or piston E and the head or follower G with thesecondary bolt. As the latter approaches the limit of its rearwardmovement its arm E engaging the shoulder 0 on the head 0 of the bar 0suddenly forces the latter rearward to swing the lever O quickly upwardin the manncrhereinbefore described. This swing of the lever O raisesthe front end of the cartridge-carrier table and at the same time,through the engagement of its pin 0 with the slot o in lever O and theengagement of the fixed pin 0 with the slot 0 also in the lever 0,causes the latter lever to also swing to raise the rear end of the table0. In this way the table is raised to the position shown in Fig. 13,with the cartridge carried upon it in position to be engaged by thebreech-bolt G, and forced by the latter during its subsequent forwardmovement into the chamber a. As the bar 0 is driven rearward to causethe carrier 0 to be raised in the manner described the nose of thespring-pawl R snaps into the notch o in the lug O of the bar-head 0 soas to retain the bar and consequently the carrier 0 in the boltapproaches the limit of its forward movement, so as to carry thebreech-bolt head into the passage a behind the cartridge, the arm K onit strikes the inclined face on on the arm m of lever M and cams thelatter down from the position shown in Figs. 4 and 13 to that shown inFigs. 3 and 12. The movement of the lever M as it'is.thus cammed down isboth a rocking and sliding one, the

fulcrum of the lever consisting then of the lugs or studs m m on thelever sides, sliding downward and forward in the bearing-slots m m theresult of the described camming down and movement of the lever being, because of the pivotal connections between the lever and locking-brace, adownward swing of the latter to carry its breech-bolt-engaging end downbehind the breech-bolt. (See Fig. 12.) Should the head of thebreech-bolt be not fully seated in place in the passage behind thecartridge, the downward and forward travel of the front end of thelockingbrace will by the engagement of such end with the rear side ofsuch head force the latter home. To facilitate such camming action andinsure that the brace shall swing down Without check into place to lockthe breech-bolt, I round or bevel off the lower edge of the forward endof the brace, as indicated in Figs. 12, 13, and 15. The downward swingof the lever M to force the locking-brace into breech-bolt-holdingposition carries the arm m of such lever down into the slot E in thesecondary bolt, so that the arm K on the latter bolt is in the recess mof the sliding block M in position to engage the forward end of suchrecess and to pass forward to bring its shoulder k over the shoulder mon the lever M as the secondary bolt continues its forward movementafter it has cammed the latter lever down. Such conti nued movement ofthe secondary bolt causes the arm K to force the block M forward toreciprocate the rod M and so force the locking-bolt L home in the recessZ on the frame to securely lock the brace L. down in itsbreech-bolt-holding position. The shoulder k on the secondary bolt-armK,then standing above the shoulder m on the lever M, securely locks thelatter down. The gun is now loaded and ready for firing upon the pull oftrigger N and another cartridge has been fed over upon the carrier-tableby the rocking of the arms P P caused through the hereinbefore-describedconnections by the de- ICC scent of the table 0, due to the forwardmovement of the bar O" and piece 0 which are actuated by the arm E onthe secondary bolt E engaging the collar 0 as such bolt approaches thelimit of its forward motion. If now the trigger N be pulled, the slidingseartripper connected with the trigger will be ac-' tuated against thestress of spring n so that the pin a, carried by its fork-arms, will, byits engagement with the inclined slots of n on the sear N trip thelatter to release the shoulder 11/ on the hainmerN. The hammer will thenunder stress of its spring N strike the rear end of the firing-plungerF, project ing into the slot E in the secondary bolt, and will drivesuch plunger forward against the stress of its retracting-spring F toengage an d actuate the igniting pin or plunger 1 in the cartridge. Themovement of this latter pin or plunger fires the primer 1 to explode thecartridge charge, and the pressure of the gases of explosion then drivesthe piston I rearward with great force and quickness, so as to throwback the firing-plunger 1 which is engaging the rear end of theigniting-plunger. The firing-pin F, being thus driven rearward, forcesthe hammer N back with its rear end, and its momentum carries its fixedcollar or enlargement F against the bottom or rear end of the main boreof the tubular part of the secondary bolt E. The momentum of thefiring-plunger then forces the secondary bolt quickly rearward to causethe locking-brace to be unlocked and swung up, the breech-bolt to beretracted, and a new cartridge to be raised by the cartridge-carrier upinto the path of the forward end of the retracted breech-bolt just assuch operation and movement of the parts were before caused by therearward movement of the secondary bolt, as hereinbefore described.'Before the table 0 is raised to bring the new cartridge into the justabove described position the extracting-hook c on the breech-bolt,engaging the groove t'of the fired cartridge-shell, withdraws the latterfrom the chamber of the gun, and the forked arm S on secondary bolt E,engaging the spiral or twisted part of the flattened shaft S rotatessuch shaft to cause the lug s on the crank-arm s to engage and move thepin 3 on the crank arm S outward to rock the shaft S and swing theejector finger or plate S quickly downward and inward to strike theextracted shell from the extractorhook c and throw it out through theejectoropening D. The lug then passes off the pin 8, and the spring Squickly causes the shaft S to rock back again to carry the plate S upinto its normal retracted position again. As the secondary boltapproaches its extreme rearward position its forked arm S, engaging therear pin 3, drives the shaft rearward, so that its lug s can swing backpast the pin 5 as the shaft is turned back by the subsequent forwardmovement of arm S with the secondary bolt E. The air confined in thetube or cylinder G to the rear of the extension E and piston head orfollower G" and only able to escape through the port or ports 9 g servesto slow down the speed of the rearward throw of the secondarybolt Ewithout stopping it, while the spring G being compressed, is storing upenergy, which when the secondary bolt has finished its rearward travelacts to throw it forward again toward and into its normal position, fromwhich it was started by rearward driving of the firingplunger F, causedby the firing of the cartridge, as hereinbefore described. On its wayforward to such normal position the secondary bolt causes the move-,ment of the various parts, as set forth hereinbefore in the descriptionof the operation of the first loading of the gun, so that a newcartridge will be driven into the cartridgechamber by the breech-bolt,thelocking-brace will be forced down to lock such bolt and will itselfbe locked, the cartridge-carrier will be depressed and another cartridgefrom passage T will be fed upon the carrier-table by the arms P P of thefeeder, and the shaft S will by the engagement of the arm S with theforward one of the pins .5 be reciprocated to bring its lug s overbehind the pins on the crank-arm S on the ejector-shaft S in position toengage and actuate such pin when the shaft S is next rotated to causeejection of a shell, in the manner described hereinbefore. Thefiringplunger F is held normally retracted in the secondary bolt by itsspring F to be ready to be driven forward by a blow of the hammer N. Ifafter the hereinbefore-described firing the trigger N be held retracted,the hammer will when the slot E in the secondary bolt is brought over itby the forward travel of such bolt fly up under stress of its spring Nandstrike the projecting end of the firing-plungerF to cause the latterto engage and actuate the igniting pin or plunger of the new cartridgeinserted in the cartridge-chamber. The operation of the parts of the gunmechanism consequent upon the firing of the first cartridge will then berepeated and the gun will go on firing automatically with great rapidityas long as the trigger is held retracted and cartridges are keptsupplied to the passage T from any suitable source of supply. \Vhen itis desired that the firing should cease, all that is necessary is torelease the trigger, which will allow the sear N to engage thecocking-shoulder n 011 the hammer and hold the latter retracted. Themechanism will then cease its automatic operation with a cartridgeinserted in the cartridgechamber and the gun made ready to be againfired when the hammer is again released by a pull upon the trigger.

Where it is desired to use the gun to fire a single shot at the will ofthe user without antomatic repetition of the firing, all that isnecessary is to pull and quickly release the trigger. The gun will thenbe fired and reloaded, ready for firing again, as desired.

No claims are made herein to my cartridge by itself, as I have made suchcartridge the adapted to be actuated by a movable part of a cartridge inthe gun-chamber in rear of the projectile, means for-locking thebreech-closing device, and connections between such locking means andthe plunger, whereby the movement of the latter causes thebreechclos'ing device to be unlocked, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. In a gun, in which the firing-plunger moves rearward to effect theunlocking of the breech-closing mechanism, in combination with a movablebreech-closing device, a plunger movable with reference to such deviceand adapted to engage a movable part of a cartridge in the gunchamber, amovable piece adapted to be driven rearward by the plunger, means forlocking the breech-closing device, and connections between such lockingmeans and the plunger, whereby the rearward movement of the lattercauses the breechclosing device to be unlocked, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

3. In a gun, in which the firing-plunger moves rearward to effect theunlocking of the breech-closing mechanism, in combination with a movablebreech-closing device, a plunger movable with reference to such device,and adapted to engage a movable part of a cartridge, seated in thechamber of the gun, a lockingbrace for the breech-closing device, meansfor moving the locking-brace, and connections between such means and theplunger, whereby movement of the latter causes the lockingbrace to bemoved to release the breech-closing device, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

4:. I11 a gun, in which the firing-plunger moves rearward to effect theunlocking of the.

breechclosing mechanism, in combination with a movable breech-closingdevice, a plunger movable with reference to such device, and adapted toengage a movable part of a cartridge seated in the chamber of the gun, alocking-brace for the breech-closing device, a lever connected with suchdevice to actuate the same, and connections between such lever and thepl1inger,wl1ereby rearward movement of the plunger causes the lever tobe actuated to disengage the lockingbrace from the breechclosing device,substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a gun, in which the firing-plunger moves rearward to effect theunlocking of the breech -closing mechanism, in combination with amovable breech-closin g device, a plunger movable with reference to thelatter, and adapted to be actuated by a movable part of a cartridgeseated in the chamber of the gun, a locking-brace for the breechclosingdevice, means for moving the locking device, and a movable piece engagedby the plunger, as the latter moves rearward, and itself adapted toengage and actuate the locking-brace-moving means, substantially as andfor the purpose I described.

6. In a gun, in which the-firing-plunger moves rearward to actuate thebreech mechanism, in combination with a movable breechclosing device, aplunger movable with reference to the latter, a locking-brace for thebreech-closing device, a lever connected with the brace, a movable pieceadapted to be en-' gaged and moved by a portion of the plunger, and a'bearing on the lever to be engaged by the movable piece, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

7. In a gun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device and aplunger movable with reference to the latter, and adapted to be so movedby the action of the gases of explosion, a locking-brace for thebreech-closing device, a movable piece adapted to be engaged andactuated by the plunger, a lever connected with the locking-brace andhaving a bearing in the path of the movable piece, and inclines on thelever and 011 a stationary support,respectively, to cam the lever upwardas it is moved by the movable piece, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

8. In a gun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device adaptedto engage and support the base of a cartridge seated in the gun-chamberand a plunger movable with reference to such device, a locking-brace forthe breech-closing device, a movable piece having an abutment in thepath of part of the plunger and an arm, and a lever connected with thelocking-brace, having an arm with an abutment to be engaged by a bearingon the movable piece, and an inclined face to be engaged by the arm onsuch piece, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a gun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device, amovable lockingbrace for the latter, a movable piece having an abutmentand an arm, and a lever connected with the locking-brace, having an armwith a bearing to be engaged by the abutment on the movable piece, asthe latter moves in one direction, and an inclined face to be engaged bythe arm on the piece, as the latter moves in the other direction,substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In agun, in combination withamovable breech-closing device and amovable lockingbrace therefor, a movable piece having an abutment and anarm, a lever connected with the locking-brace, having an arm providedwith a bearing to be engaged by the abutment on the movable piece, aninclined face to be engaged by the arm on such piece, and

I IC

a locking-shoulder to be engaged by a portion of such arm to lock thelever from movement, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

11. In agun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device and amovable lockingbrace therefor, a movable piece having an abutment and anarm, a lever connected with the locking-brace, having an arm providedwith a bearing to be engaged by the abutment on the movable piece, anincline to be engaged by the arm on such piece, and a shoulder at theupper end of the incline, sub stantially as and for the purposedescribed.

12. In agun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device and amovable lockingbrace therefor, a movable piece having an abutment and anarm, a lever connected with the locking-brace and having an arm with abearing and an incline, to be engaged, respectively, by the abutment andarm on the movable piece, a sliding rod on the lever, having a head witha recess, into which the arm on the movable piece projects, and in whichsuch arm can move, when the lever is down, and a locking-bolt, carriedby the lockingbrace, connected with the rod, and adapted to enter alocking-recess in a part supported on the gun-frame, substantially asand for the purpose described.

13. In a gun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device, and apivoted lockingbrace therefor, a lever pivotally connected with thelocking-brace, and having an arm provided, on its rear side, with aninclined face, rearwardly and upwardly inclined bearing-faces on thelever and on a suitable support or supports, respectively,. a slidingrod on the lever having a head with a recess, a locking-bolt on thelocking-brace, to engage a suitable recess in a stationary part, connections between such bolt and the rod, and a movable piece having anabutment to engage the forward side of the lever-arm, as the piece ismoved rearward, and an arm to engage the incline on the lever-arm, asthe piece moves forward again, the arm on such movable piece projectingup into the recess in the head on the rod, substantially as and for-thepurpose described.

4 let. In a gun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device anda pivoted lockingbrace therefor, a lever pivotally connected with thelocking-brace and having an arm provided with an inclined face on itsrear side, one or more upwardly and rearwardlyinclined faces on thelever engaging one or more inclined faces on a fixed support orsupports, a sliding rod on the lever having a head with a recesssituated above the upper end of the inclined face on the lever-arm, alocking-bolt carried by the locking-brace, a fixed part carried by thegun-frame, to receive the end of such bolt, when the brace is down, apin connected with the bolt and engaging a slot in the end of thesliding rod projectingfrom the lever, and a movable piece having anabutment or shoulder to engage the forward side of the lever-arm, and anarm, to engage the inclined face on the rear side of the leverarm,projecting up into the recess in the head on the sliding rod, when thelever is swung down to put the locking-brace in position to hold thebreech-closing device closed, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

15. In a gun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device and aswinging lockingbrace therefor, a lever pivotally connected with thebrace and having an arm provided with a rearwardly and downwardlyinclined face on its rear side, a shoulder at the upper end of suchinclined face, and one or more upwardly and rearwardly inclined faces,engaging a correspondingly-inclined face or faces on a suitable supportor supports independent of the lever, a sliding rod on the lever, havinga head with a recess above the shoulder on the lever, a locking-boltcarried by the locking-brace and connected with the sliding rod by a pinengaging a slot in the rod, a fixed piece carrying a locking-recess forthe bolt end, and a movable piece having an abutment to engage theforward side of the lever-arm, as the piece moves rearward, and an armto engage the inclined face on the rear side of the lever-arin,as thepiece moves forward, such arm on the movable piece having its upper endprojecting forward to engage the forward end of the recess in therodhead, and to stand over the shoulder on the lever-arm, as the movablepiece is moved forward, after the lever is down, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

16. In a gun, in combination with a movable breech-closin g device and apivoted lockingbrace therefor, a lever pivotally connected with thelocking-brace and having an arm with a rearwardly and downwardlyinclined face on its rear side, and a shoulder at the upper end of suchinclined face, rearwardly and upwardly inclined faces on the sides ofthe lever, engaging correspondingly-inclined faces on fixed supportsindependent of the lever, studs or pins on the lever engaging upwardlyand rearwardly inclined slots in such supports, a sliding rod'carried bythe lever and having its forward end provided with a slot, a slidingbolt on the locking-brace having a pin engaging the slot in the rod end,a suitable fixed part carrying a recess to receive the bolt end when thelatter is forced forward, a head on the sliding rod having a recessabove the shoulder at the upper end of the inclined face on thelever-arm, and a movable piece having an abutment to engage the forwardside of the lever-arm, and an upwardly and forwardly projecting arm, toengage the inclined face on the lever-arm, having shoulder to engage theends of the recess in the rod-head, as the arm is moved forward and backwithin such recess, and a shoulder to engage the shoulder on thelever-arm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

17. In a gun, in combination with a movable breech closing device, amovable plunger adapted to be moved in one direction by the action ofthe gases ofexplosion, that at one point in its movement in the oppositedirection engages a movable part of a cartridge seated in the chamber ofa gun, a movable piece, engaged and actuated by such plunger, andconnections between such piece and the breech-closing devices to retractthe latter to open the breech, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

18. In a gun, in combination with a movable breechclosing device, amovable plunger adapted to be moved rearward by the action of the gasesof explosion, that at one point in its forward movement engages amovable part of a cartridge in the chamber of a gun, a movable piece,engaged and forced rearward by the plunger and connections between suchpiece and the breech-closing device, to open and close the latter as themovable piece moves rearward and forward, respectively, substantially asand for the purpose described.

19. In agun, in combination with a movable breech closing device, amovable plunger adapted to be moved by the action of the gases ofexplosion, a movable piece engaged an d forced rearward by theplunger,and yielding connections between the movable piece and thebreech-closing device, .to force the latter rearward and forward, as themovable piece moves rearward and forward, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

20. In agun, in combination with a movable breech closing device, amovable plunger adapted to be moved by the action of the gases ofexplosion, a movable piece -engaged and forced rearward by the plunger,connections between such piece and the breech-closing device, wherebythe latter is opened and closed, as the movable piece moves rearward andforward, and spring mechanism compressed by the rearward travel of themovable piece, to throw such piece forward again, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

21. In agun, in combination with a movable breech closing device, amovable plunger adapted to be moved by the action of the gases ofexplosion, a movable piece engaged and forced rearward by the plunger,connections between such piece and the breech-closing device, wherebythe latter is opened and closed by the rearward and forward movements,respectively, of the piece, a head connected and traveling with themovable piece, and a spring engaged by such head, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

22. In a gun, in combination with a movable breech closing device, amovable plunger adapted to be moved by the action of the gases ofexplosion, a movable piece engaged and forced rearward by the plunger,connec tions between such piece and the breech-closing device, wherebythe latter is opened and closed by the rearward and forward movements,respectively, of the piece, a pistonhead connected and traveling withthe movable piece, a closed cylinder, in which such head fits andtravels, having one or more airports, and a spring in such cylinderei'igaged by the head, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

23. In agun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device and aplunger adapted to be moved by the action of the gases of explosionmoving through the same, a reciprocating piece engaged and forcedrearward by the plunger, as the latter is driven rearward,connectionsbetween such piece and the breech-closin g device, whereby rearward andforward travel of the piece opens and closes the breech-closing device,and spring mechanism, to throw the reciprocating piece forward again,when it has been driven rearward, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

24:. In agun, in combination with a movable breech-closing device, aplunger adapted to be moved by the action of the gases of explosionmoving through the same and having a head or enlargement, areciprocating piece having an abutment to be engaged by the rear end ofthe head or enlargement on the plunger, a head on the reciprocatingpiece, connections between such head and breechclosing device, to allowthe reciprocating piece to travel rearward a certain distance withrelation to the breech-closing device, and then to carry the latter withit, spring mechanism to throw the reciprocating piece forward again, andconnections between such piece and the breech-closing device, wherebythe forward movement of the piece closes such device, substantially asand for the purpose described.

25. In agun,in combination with the breechclosing device, having ashankprovided with a head, at or near its rear end, a plunger adapted to bemoved by the action of the gases of explosion moving through suchdevice, and having an enlargement or head, a reciprocating piece havingan abutment to be engaged by the rear end of the head on the plunger anda head through which the shank of the breech-closing device passes, aloose collaron this shank, a spring between the collar and a bearing onthe head on the shank of the breechclosing device, aslidingcollaron theplunger, to the rear of the latter head, and a spring engaging suchcollar and the forward side of the head or enlargement on the plunger,substantially as and for the purpose described.

26. In combination with the reciprocating breech-bolt, a plunger movingthrough the bolt and having an enlargement or head, a secondary bolthaving a head through which the shank of the breech-bolt passes, a headon such shank within the secondary bolt, a loose collar on the shankengaging a shoulder on the latter, adapted to hold the collar normally acertain distance to the rear of the head of the secondary bolt, a springon the breech-bolt shank between the collar and a IIO

